Tuesday Two-Fer, VIII: Twisted Sister

From our friend HIM

I think that Twisted Sister are one of the luckiest bar bands in the world. They had a sound. They had an idea. And they were lucky to have Snider there to carry that sound and idea across the finish line. Yes, French is the protector of the brand. But, without Snider, these strivers would likely have been relegated to a pub—British or American, wink—where the rest of us would never have known their greatness.

First Pick: “I Am (I’m Me),” You Can’t Stop Rock n’ Roll (1983):

To my mind, their first official release is also the best. It shows the fans what they really were doing before MTV figured it out for everyone else. And this song is their essential formula, sans the videos and sheen that made them, admittedly, a household name. All the ingredients are here.

Second Pick: “Wake Up (The Sleeping Giant),” Love Is For Suckers (1987):

Add a little keyboard and production by Beau Hill, some background vocals by Luke Perry (?!?!) and Kip Winger, and voila! Late career pants kicking rock. That they would diss this album is a shame. The parts are often better than the whole. And this is one of several songs that actually showed that Sister still had some life in them (even if they balked at having a solo Snider album branded with their name).

Honorable Mention: “The Kids Are Back,” You Can’t Stop Rock n’ Roll (1983):

Same as the first. Attitude. Anthemic. Awesome. This was the SMF that made the PMRC quake, no blade needed.

Comments

[GNR]

Love both songs mentioned - but you don't have an I AM (I'm Me) without Shoot Em Down :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l9L4a-ykh4

There is a reason Motorhead covered it

[Bob]

Growing up in New Jersey, I followed Twisted Sister long before they were famous. In fact, I still have my vinyl copy of "under the Blade" that I bought as an Italian import right after the album came out. The song from that album that still gives me chills is "Run For Your Life." that slow ominous section at the beginning that then explodes without warning into the rest of the song is simply amazing. "Love is for Suckers" is a decent late 80s pop metal album, but it is definitely not a Twisted Sister album, and I can understand why the boys didn't appreciate having it come out with their name on it. "you Can't Stop Rock 'n Roll" is definitely their best album from start to finish. I actually became a man with that album playing in the background, (I was such a classy guy back then.) Anyway, Twisted Sister is still one of my very favorite bands from back then, but I find myself mostly listening to their pre-"Stay Hungry" stuff. Yes, "Stay Hungry" rocketed them to super stardom, but it also was the start of their musical decline. I can still remember the first time I heard, "We're Not gonna Take It" on the radio. I thought it was cheap Trick who were going in a slightly heavier direction. Imagine my surprise when I found out that it was the same band that, only a year or two earlier, was playing really heavy stuff like "You Know I Cry" and "Plastic Money."

[Metalboy!]

I always thought of these guys as The Kings of Neanderthal Rock because of the simpleton approach to every aspect of their act.

However, there’s no denying Snider has one helluva voice. I managed to see these guys twice POINT BLANK, including just a few years ago at M3 and was completely blown away by his vocals.

[Gogmagog]

I don't know how much of the guitar playing Reb Beach is responsible for on Love Is For Suckers, but it's unmistakably him ripping the solo for Hot Love. Even though that record was supposed to be a Dee Snider solo album, the TS logo is on the cover, so I'm saying that song is one of my favs. And Wikipedia says Ronni le Tekro, my vote for the best guitar player nobody has heard of (outside of this forum, of course), contributed to some of the arrangements. So it can't be all bad.

IMHO, their best album is Live At Hammersmith. Even though Snider talks way too much, every single song on there has been improved ten-fold from the studio version. They're all faster, heavier and more focused. Stay Hungry approaches thrash speed, and I still can't listen to the studio cut of I Am (I'm Me), because of how awesome the live cut is.

[JCD]

You Can't Stop Rock and Roll is the king of their albums for me. The rest is hit or miss, a song here or there is good. I'll have to check Live at Hammersmith out. For my money, the best thing with Dee Snider associated with it are the 2 Widowmaker records. The self titled is pure anthem rock and the second is heavy. Check them out if you've not heard them.

[fletch]

jacky bam bam wmmr

[Bkallday]

That first Widowmaker & Stay Hungry shit all over anything else that Snider has ever released. Everything else was pretty much garbage.

[Metalboy!]

Hahaha!!!, BK! I’ve got that Widowmaker album ... let’s not get carried away! However, I will say I am TOTALLY with ya regarding “Stay Hungry”!!!

OH, and they’ve STILL got one of THE coolest band logos EVER!!!